LWV DelCo Environmental Clearinghouse
Delaware County Environmental Clearinghouse
A commercial real estate developer is looking at a 24-acre site at the Congoleum plant in Trainer and Lower Chichester for a possible data center, the first time a proposed center has come up in Delaware County since data centers became controversial due to environmental and electric grid concerns.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order that makes his voluntary guardrails for data centers mandatory. The new order distances the governor from project developers after months of mounting pressure to take action. “Starting today, (artificial intelligence) data center developers who want to do business in our commonwealth must respect our communities and abide by these stringent requirements,” Shapiro said. “And if they can’t agree to do that, well, they should stop considering Pennsylvania a home for their project.”
The Radnor Township Environmental Council is focusing this year on promoting native plants and encouraging residents to plant milkweed to nurture monarch butterflies, a very endangered species, as well as on various energy projects.
The 30-second ads, which feature B-roll of a family cooking together, a nurse and a business owner, are a near-carbon copy of ads playing across TV and social media in at least six other states. They all attempt to counter common critiques of data centers, including their enormous demand for water, energy, land and relatively low levels of job creation compared to the tax breaks they receive.
Beginning July 29th, 2026, residents can borrow a “Team Up to Clean Up” litter kit from any Delaware County Libraries’ location—just like checking out a book. Available to anyone with a Delaware County Libraries’ card, these kits provide an easy way for residents to earn volunteer hours, take pride in their neighborhoods, and become part of the solution to litter.
The Monroe Refinery in Trainer, PA, is seeking approval for several large construction projects expected to begin in August 2026 and conclude in December 2029. The Clean Air Council is concerned about several aspects of the projects. Public comments on the projects are due by Monday.
Eddystone is not in secret talks with any company seeking to build an LNG terminal, according to the borough manager in response to allegations raised by two environmental groups.
Just a week after anti-data center protesters descended on the capitol in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill 171-31 in June 30 to require developers of data centers to disclose ownership and hold public meetings in affected communities to qualify for millions of dollars in tax breaks.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Riverways Coalition are seeking enthusiastic individuals that are interested in adopting a section of a creek, stream, or river in the Philadelphia region for weekly monitoring. Volunteers will conduct visual assessments of Combined Sewer Overflow outfalls at their assigned sections.
The DEP has published its 2026 Air Monitoring Network Plan for the entire state and is seeking public comment, but Delaware Countians are likely to be most interested in pages 22 to 29, dealing with Chester’s air monitoring program, of the 161-page statewide report.
